Summer is coming — and you’re about to need an arsenal of summer cocktails for your upcoming BBQs, pool parties, outdoor lunches, brunches and camping trips. Here are three great recipes!

While in reality, it might not be summer everywhere just yet, Memorial Day is rolling around again this Monday. Which for many, represents the kick off of everybody’s favorite season. We take the day off to honor those who have passed while serving our nation. We do this by taking a day of rest, turning off our phones, computers and getting together with the people we are grateful to have in our lives. It's a day to celebrate love and appreciation. If cocktails are a part of that plan, I have good news for you. Here are three great skinny summer cocktail recipes. I went with a red, white and blue theme to help you retreat, relax and remember.

Often I feature new, original recipes in my blog because I love mixology and playing with seasonal flavors and new ingredients. Considering my May travel schedule, I haven’t yet found time to create a new seasonal line (fear not — you will get one!). The great news? I’m a published author of the original low calorie cocktail book “SkinnyTinis — All the Fun for Half the Calories.” I have access to 70 unique, well tested and delicious recipes in my back pocket. YAY! So I’m featuring some of my favorites here. If you don’t already have a copy, I suggest you pick one up ASAP. Amazon has the new paperback version for $10. It is light, compact and quite frankly, just a really good book.

Without further ado, here are my recommended recipes for your summer cocktails!

RED Summer Cocktail: SkinnyTini’s Strawberry Daiquiri

Traditional daiquiris are actually quite skinny, as they originally contained just rum, lime juice and a limited amount of simple syrup. The problem is, that is not what most typical restaurants use to create their daiquiris these days. Most establishment stock a readymade syrup based concoction that is dreadful from a sugar and calorie perspective. Then they top it off with full dairy whipped cream and you have yourself something more equivalent to a cake, not a cocktail. I think you will find this SkinnyTini to be lighter, fresher and more natural. Not only does it have less than half the calories, it carries twice the flavor and truly is better than its original, high calorie counterpart.

• 1 1/2 oz white rum
• 1 1/2 oz sugar-free strawberry flavored water
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 5 fresh strawberries
• 5 drops liquid Sweet’N Low
• 1/2 – 1 cup ice for blending

Calories: 110 (versus 366 in your traditional recipe — 70% fewer calories!)

Directions: Add all ingredients to a blender. Mix on high speed for a minute. Use more ice and water if you want to puff up the the volume of the cocktail and not the calories. Pour into your preferred cocktail glass, garnish with a fresh strawberry and serve!

WHITE Summer Cocktail: SkinnyTini’s Pina Colada

Similar to the daiquiri, most Pina Coladas are made with a product called coconut cream that most establishments stock to make the preparation process easier for the bartender. And again, the problem is that it is a caloric nightmare! And it really is unnecessary. Getting to the core coconut and pineapple flavors is much more effective if you get closer to the natural source. Again, here you will find, the SkinnyTini far outperforms the original, high calorie counterpart.

• 1 1/2 oz white rum
• 1 oz light coconut milk
• 1/2 oz pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz sugar-free coconut syrup
• 1/2 – 1 cup of ice

Calories: 124 (versus 242 in your traditional recipe — 49% fewer calories!)

Directions: Add all ingredients to a blender. Mix on high speed for a minute. Use more ice if you want to puff up the the volume of the cocktail and not the calories. Pour into your preferred cocktail glass, garnish with a fresh pineapple and serve!

BLUE Summer Cocktail: SkinnyTini’s Skinny Blueberry Lemonade

Ok, I know, Lemonade is not blue. But totally perfect for your outdoor celebrations and just looks like a BBQ cocktail! I say skewer some high antioxidant fresh blueberries and use as a garnish. Or freeze some and drop them in the drink in lieu of or addition to your ice! Not only will it complete your red, white and blue theme, your guests will also get a little punch from the vitamins and fiber content! And each blueberry only has 1 calorie, so you can really load ‘em up without making much of a dent in your low calorie cocktail offering.

• 1 1/2 oz citrus vodka
• 3 oz club soda
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1 packet of sugar-free sweetener
• Few frozen or skewered blueberries

Calories: 88 (traditional lemonade has 14 calories per oz. So you save ~50 calories per 5 oz serving with this one! 35% fewer calories)

Directions: Fill your desired cocktail glass with ice (or frozen blueberries!), add all ingredients. Stir well and serve!

There you have it! Three wonderful, skinny, light, delicious and just perfect summer cocktails for your recipe arsenal!

And because SkinnyTinis are just the start of your celebration, here are some healthy recipes that I think look like wonderful additions to your party!

• Coastal Living — Summer Recipes
• Huffington Post — Healthy and Vegan Recipes
• Picky Eater Blog — Healthy Tips and Recipes

Do you have a favorite Memorial Day holiday recipe or tradition? I’d love to hear about it!

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